SMITH: Now let’s focus on the positives of being out of the EU

A trio of Central Scotland MSPs welcomed the result after speaking out in support of the Leave campaign.

Labour member Elaine Smith, the former Coatbridge MSP, had made her case at Holyrood for the UK coming out of the EU, while Conservatives Margaret Mitchell and Graham Simpson had also backed the Leave campaign.

Ms Smith says that the focus should now be on “the positives of not being in the European Union”, and says Holyrood — where all parties backed a Remain vote — did not reflect the fact that nearly four in 10 voters across Scotland cast their votes for Leave.

She told the Advertiser: “The Scottish Parliament debate wasn’t very representative of different views or reflective of the way people voted. “38 per cent of people voted Leave. It strikes me that those voices weren’t being expressed. There was only me putting a left-wing Leave

case. “Now what we should be doing is looking to the positives of not being in the EU — we’ll never again have to compulsori l y tender Calmac ser vices, could renationalise railways and [trade agreement] TTIP not being on the cards is positive from my perspective.” She said of Scotland producing a majority for Remain: “This was a UKwide vote and the result is the democratic decision of people across the UK — every vote counted equally and the democracy of that has to be accepted.

“People have made a decision and politicians should make it work, and be coming together to get the best deal and make sure the economy doesn’t suffer and that people aren’t suffering from austerity.”

Ms Smith said of the reaction and continuing aftermath at Westminster: “It seems to me that the result has rather taken the government by storm. I’m astonished that they didn’t have a Plan B. If you go to the people, you should expect that they may speak. They should have been more ready.”

Conservative member Mrs Mitchell said of the result: “I think it’s the right decision and now it’s time for a period of calm and to go forward in a statesmanlike way to ensure that this decision works and that we get the very best deal for everyone in the UK.

“We’ll get more freedom to trade through Europe and the world, they’ll be coming forward from many countries, so it’s positive and there will be opportunities for our manufacturers.

“It’s been 40 years since we had a decision on Europe — since then, it’s evolved and become much more political.

“Small businesses that never trade with Europe are affected by it and the transparency and accountability aren’t there.

“Regardless of which way the decision went, there was always going to be a period of uncertainty, but the Bank of England has said it will do whatever is needed to stablise the country.

“It’s early days — it’s business as usual and nothing changes until we invoke Article 50.”

She added of Thursday’s ballot: “It was one person, one vote and the result should be respected; every single vote counted and now we have to reassure everyone that they’re working to make sure this democratic decision works for the benefit of all.”

Party colleague Graham Simpson agreed: “This was a UK-wide result and can’t be broken down into just a Scottish vote, as it’s the UK that’s a member of the EU.”

He added: “We’re still in the EU for at least two years, but I think when we do leave it’s a fantastic opportunity to take control of all our own decisions, to reach out and strike trade deals with the rest of the world. We’ll still be friends with Europe, but this opens up a whole world of possibility.

“The important thing now is that we need a period of calm and, after the Conservative leadership election, it’s up to the new Prime Minister to start the negotiation process.

“We need to see what the SNP try to do — our stance is very clear, that we’ll be opposing any moves to have a second independence referendum.”